Compassion and Oblivion

Chapter Twelve: Snakebite

TW-Alcohol Use

"Dude, she really said that to you?" Sam asks, completely shocked, propping himself up on his elbows from his reclined position on your couch.

"She did," you confirm...for the third time. You prop your elbows on your knees and rest your head in your hands, looking down at Sam while seated on the back of the couch.

"And you absolutely tore her to shreds, in her own living room?"

"I did."

Sam leans forward to meet your gaze and gives you a crisp high five.

"Ow," you gasp, rubbing your palms together. "I don't know, man, was I too harsh? I'd only just met her, and I ended her entire career within two minutes of interacting with her."

Sam scoffs, "What career? She doesn't work, remember? Besides, she'd only just met you, and she was insulting you first."

You laugh, and gaze out the window behind the couch, overlooking the messy farmland. "Yeah, that's true. I don't have a problem standing up for myself, but I don't particularly want to earn a poor reputation by doing so."

Sam leans back down to rest his head on the arm of the couch. "Nah, I think everyone would understand. Everyone already knows how Haley is. I don't think anyone would bat an eye if they heard about what you said, especially if they know the whole story. I wouldn't worry too much."

You slide down the back of the couch to sit next to his curled up legs. "Yeah, you're probably right."

After his shift today, Sam had practically sprinted to the cottage so he could hear about your altercation with Haley. He brought over some deli sandwiches and sodas from Joja-Mart for you to share for dinner. After filling him in on yesterday afternoon's adventure, the two of you moved to the couch to throw on a movie, where Sam had to confirm the details two more times. He apparently couldn't believe that you'd grown to be so bold.

You and Sam continue watching the movie for a few minutes. "Oh, I saw Sebastian again today," you start. "Alex tried starting some shit with us when Seb walked me home, and he stood up for me. He's...really sweet."

Sam bolts up and stares at your face closely. "You're getting a crush on him."

You turn your face away from him shyly. "I don't know. I mean, yeah, he's really handsome. I'm really attracted to his personality and his demeanor, from what I've observed so far. But I don't know if I should let myself catch feelings for him. He wants to leave Pelican Town. What if I fall for him, and he leaves? I'm not going back to the city, I can't follow him there if that happens. Besides, I heard he's got a thing for Abigail, and that makes sense. They seem good for each other."

Your friend studies your expression for a moment. "I'm going to tell you something, but you can't tell anyone I told you this."

You turn back and meet his eyes, waiting for him to go on.

"Obviously, Seb and Abby have very similar tastes. Everyone in town has been pinning them together ever since Sebastian moved here. Everybody just assumes that because they both wear dark clothes and have edgy hairstyles that they're meant to be together. It's been that way for so long that I think Sebastian actually believes it...but I don't think Abby really sees him like that. She plays along because everyone expects her to, but every time they are forced together like that, something seems off. I've known them for a long time, they're my closest friends. I can tell that their chemistry doesn't line up any further than platonically. I think if they did get together, they would be miserable 'cause they just don't click like that."